COMMENTARY

MARK SCHUMANN

After spending precious time before the cameras at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting calling numerous people every name in the book, civic activist Charlie Wilson concluded his remarks by saying, “They are not the enemy.  The FMPA (Florida Municipal Power Agency) is the enemy.”

Given his harsh criticisms and disparaging remarks about his fellow citizens, Wilson’s offer of a wilted olive branch did little to promote peace and goodwill.

Like an adolescent who does not know any better, Wilson is confusing the process of working through the adversarial relationships that inevitably arise between parties with competing interests with the waging of total war.

What could reasonably remain no more or less than challenging and difficult negotiations, Wilson proposes to treat as an all-out conflict.  At least that is what is implied by his use of the word “enemies.”

To be sure, the majority of Vero Beach voters have made clear their willingness and desire to sell Vero Electric, if at all possible.  Granted, many city residents did not vote in the March referendum, but those who cared enough to have their voices heard have spoken.

The public’s desire to sell Vero Electric, however, does not mean the city can unilaterally abrogate its long-standing and long-term commitments to the FMPA and its bondholders.  Voters never approved such irresponsibility.

Now that several ill-conceived blueprints for a proposed sale have been set aside as unworkable, FPL has finally put forth a proposal that may at the very least lead to progress in the city’s negotiations with the FMPA.

For the year of delay spent avoiding the main issues, there is no one to blame but the city’s transactional attorneys and their three supporters and protectors on the City Council, Tracy Carroll, Craig Fletcher and Pilar Turner. To date, the tab for the work of John Igoe and his associates is fast approaching $1.4 million.

The serious and purposeful negotiations begun this week will take time, and only time will tell if a deal can be structured that does not harm the FMPA and its bondholders.

In the mean time, talk by Wilson, Glenn Heran and even the Indian River County Commission, of lobbying efforts, lawsuits and “enemies” will serve no useful purpose.

One day the dust will settle on this sage, and the City of Vero Beach either will or will not remain the proud owner of an electric utility.

Whatever the outcome of the effort to sell Vero Electric, the residents of Vero Beach and Indian River County will be left with the all-important responsibility of building and maintaining community.

The more Wilson and others talk of “enemies,” and the more they describe persons of opposing views as “naysayers, no-sellers, name callers, mud throwers, liberals and bitter defeated candidates” the more challenging will be the task of repairing bridges and mending fences.